Dispenser for wafer pockets containing wafers and wafer pocket assembly

ABSTRACT

In order to ensure reliable consumption of medicines present in the form of wafers, to allow the medicines to be easily removed from a dispenser  1  and to allow the latter to be easily refilled with medicines, the dispenser  1  and a wafer pocket booklet  100  which can be introduced into the dispenser  1  are proposed. The wafers are packed in wafer pockets  20 , and the dispenser  1  according to the invention contains the wafer pockets  20 . For this purpose, the dispenser  1  comprises a supply space  9 , at least one holding element  19  and at least one dispensing opening  5  for one wafer pocket  20  in each case, wherein the wafer pocket  20  can be dispensed from the dispenser  1  in a dispensing direction A. In an inventive fashion, the at least one wafer pocket  20  has in each case a wafer region  21  containing the wafer and in each case at least one residual region  24  of the at least one wafer pocket  20 , said residual region  24  remaining in the dispenser  1  when the wafer region  21  is removed. The wafer region  21  is connected to the at least one residual region  24  at least in certain sections, in each case via at least one predetermined partition line  28.1, 28.2  which has, at least in certain sections, an extent component  29  parallel to the dispensing direction A.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dispenser for wafer-containing wafer pockets and a booklet made of such wafer pockets. Such dispensers are used, for example, for making available medicines and sweets in a wafer form, in particular for hormone medicines and quite particularly for contraception or for hormone replacement therapy, and for presentations containing analgesics or nicotine.

PRIOR ART

Medicines or sweets in a wafer form are conventionally made available in a primary package, in which the wafers are enclosed by being sealed or welded between two sealing films, in particular a carrier film and a cover film, or a top film and a bottom film, so as to be impermeable to outside moisture and air, and can be stored. The wafers are removed from these primary packages by tearing open the sealing films, and are applied, usually via the oral cavity. For this purpose, the sealing films are either detached from each other, or they are torn so that the wafer can be removed.

Such a package for films containing active substances is disclosed in DE 10 2006 041 921 A1. This package has a carrier layer and a cover layer which is detachably connected to the latter. In the specific design of the package disclosed in said document, the package also has two surface areas which are opposite one another in a paired arrangement and separated from one another by a web, the cover layer not being connected to the carrier layer within said arrangement, as a result of which two spaces which are separate from each other and are enclosed on all sides are formed for receiving said films in pairs. Moreover, a further surface area in which the carrier layer is not connected to the cover layer is present within said web, as a result of which a hollow space which is enclosed on all sides is formed. Finally, a perforation line is present within the web. The further surface area within the web of the double package forms a tear-open aid, such that the surface required for this is reduced relative to the surface areas which are intended to accommodate the packaged material. The perforation line within the further surface area extends in the direction of this surface area. By making an initial tear in the carrier layer and the cover layer at the perforation line, and by subsequently continuing this tear, the abovementioned further surface area is divided approximately into two halves. As a result of the two layers of the package being cut through, free edges are formed which can serve as a tear-open aid, with the result that a tear-open aid is produced.

Another embodiment for packaging a wafer is disclosed in DE 10 2004 047 447 B4. The package described therein has a first surface area for the wafer, which in this surface area is enclosed on all sides by a carrier film and a cover film by being sealed or welded in. The package has a second surface area in which the carrier layer is not connected to the cover film. Moreover, a perforation line is present which extends at least partially within the second surface area, the perforation being provided both in the carrier layer and in the cover layer. The cutting through of the perforation has the effect of producing a free edge of the cover layer, which serves as a gripping aid and permits manual removal of the cover layer from the carrier layer.

These primary packages can also be made available and ready for use in a secondary package.

For example, DE 101 59 746 A1 describes a dispensing device for storing and making available stacked film pockets filled with wafers. The film pockets are formed by a carrier film of greater surface and by a smaller cover film, with the result that the carrier film protrudes beyond the cover film on one side. The dispensing device comprises a housing which is partitioned at least once and against whose lateral inner sides the side edges of the stacked film pockets bear, while that edge of the carrier film which protrudes beyond the edge of the associated cover film bears on a front inner side. The film pockets are pressed with spring-loading against the upper inner side of the housing. The front, upper region of the housing has two slits for ejection of the film pocket parts and of the wafer. A blade, on which the uppermost carrier film lies, spatially in front of the front edge of the cover film, is arranged between the slits. Moreover, a rotatable transport element, with which the uppermost film pocket can be conveyed out of the dispensing device, rests on the uppermost film pocket. The blade separates the carrier film from the cover film during the conveying out process, wherein the wafer adheres to the cover film. These two films are dispensed separately through the two slits.

In addition, DE 10 2006 022 198 B4 discloses a multi-pack made up of pouches. This multi-pack contains at least one sealed pouch for a wafer containing an active substance, wherein each wafer is stored sealed in a sealed pouch. The sealed pouches are stacked in the multi-pack and detachably attached by means of predetermined partition seams. Each sealed pouch has a predetermined partition seam which bounds a tear-open area. The gripping piece is connected to the tear-open area. By pulling the gripping piece, the tear-open area is opened and the active substance-containing product is exposed. Further pulling of the gripping piece separates the predetermined partition seams. In the stacked state in the multi-pack, the individual sealed pouches are secured by means of two pins, which extend through the pouches in two through-openings, or are locked in another way with a form fit or force fit. The multi-pack can, for example, be a square box with a lid which folds open or slides open or can be taken off.

The primary and secondary packages described above for wafers are complicated and consequently can only be manufactured with quite considerable expenditure. It is also disadvantageous that the wafer pockets are either placed individually in the secondary package (DE 101 59 746 A1) or fixedly connected to the secondary package (DE 10 2006 022 198 B4). This requires either that, in the first case, the secondary packages are filled individually with wafer pockets by the user or a manufacturer or, in the other case, the secondary packages which have already been filled with wafer pockets are made available by the manufacturer. It is therefore necessary for the user either to throw away the empty secondary package or to return it to the manufacturer for refilling. However, it is problematic for a user to fill the secondary package with wafer pockets when the wafer pockets have to be filled into the secondary package in a specific sequence in order, for example, to maintain a predefined medicine-taking regime. This is because in this case errors may occur during the filling process which then adversely affect the stringent observance of the wafer being taken in the specific sequence. The aforementioned problem can be solved if the wafer pockets are attached in the secondary packaging. However, it is not desirable to discard the secondary packaging after the wafer pockets have been consumed, since this would generate needless waste and, in addition, a new secondary package would have to be made available each time. The alternative possibility, namely that of returning the secondary package to the manufacturer for refilling, is likewise disadvantageous, since this will entail considerable logistical expenditure.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to be able to ensure, using customary solutions for providing wafer pockets in a secondary package, an exactly predefined sequence of the pockets in the secondary package with the least possible logistical expenditure and material outlay, thereby ensuring that a medicine-taking regime can be strictly complied with. In addition, the wafer pockets are to be easy to remove from the secondary package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects are achieved by means of the dispenser for wafer-containing wafer pockets as claimed in patent claim 1, the wafer pocket booklet which comprises at least two wafer pockets which are connected to each other in a stack, according to patent claim 19, and the use of the dispenser as claimed in patent claim 25. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Insofar as certain elements are mentioned below only in the singular, for example a holding element, a receptacle space, a wafer region of a wafer pocket, a residual region of a wafer pocket, a predetermined partition line of a wafer pocket, a perforation section of a wafer pocket, and an indent in a wafer pocket or a dispensing opening, the plural is also additionally meant in each case, that is to say a plurality of, for example, holding elements, receptacle spaces, wafer regions of a wafer pocket, residual regions of a wafer pocket, predetermined partition lines of a wafer pocket, perforation sections of a wafer pocket, indents in a wafer pocket or dispensing openings, unless expressly stated otherwise.

The dispenser according to the invention for the wafer-containing wafer pockets has a supply space, at least one holding element for at least one wafer pocket and at least one dispensing opening for in each case one wafer pocket, through which opening the wafer pocket can be dispensed from the dispenser in a dispensing direction. In an inventive fashion, the at least one wafer pocket has in each case a wafer region containing the wafer and in each case at least one residual region of the at least one wafer pocket, said residual region remaining in the dispenser when the wafer region is dispensed. In addition, the wafer region is connected, at least in certain sections, to the at least one residual region, in each case via at least one predetermined partition line which has, at least in certain sections, an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction of the wafer pockets out of the dispenser.

In this way, the wafer pockets can be connected to one another in a stacked fashion in the dispenser and accommodated in the dispenser and easily detached from the stack by tearing off in order to be dispensed in the dispensing direction. After the consumption of the wafer pockets, a new stack can be inserted into the dispenser by manually removing the holding element with the remaining residual regions, allowing a new holding element with a wafer pocket stack to be inserted. The removal of a wafer pocket from the dispenser is simplified to a high degree by virtue of the fact that the wafer region with the residual region, which remains in the dispenser after the dispensing of the wafer region, is connected via a predetermined partition line which has, at least in certain sections, an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction of the wafer pockets out of the dispenser, because by virtue of the tensile force in the dispensing direction, the wafer region can as a result be easily separated from the at least one residual region. This facilitates operator control.

The extent component of the predetermined partition line which runs parallel to the dispensing direction of the wafer pockets out of the dispenser is the directional component of the predetermined partition line—at least of one section of the predetermined partition line—which arises as a result of orthogonal decomposition of the direction of the predetermined partition line into a direction parallel to the dispensing direction and into a direction perpendicular thereto. Therefore, if the predetermined partition line runs at an angle>0° and <90° to the dispensing direction, the predetermined partition line therefore has both an extent component which runs parallel to the dispensing direction and an extent component which runs perpendicular or diagonal thereto. If the angle between the predetermined partition line and the dispensing direction is 0°, the predetermined partition line has exclusively an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction. In this case, the absolute value of the extent component is as large as the length of the predetermined partition line. If the angle between the predetermined partition line and the dispensing direction were to be 90°, the predetermined partition line would have exclusively an extent component perpendicular to the dispensing direction but no extent component parallel to the dispensing direction. The latter case is therefore not according to the invention. The angle of the predetermined partition line with respect to the dispensing direction is preferably 0°, i.e. the predetermined partition line runs parallel to the dispensing direction. If the angle is not 0° but rather <0°, it should be, for example, less than 75° and preferably less than or equal to 45° at least in certain sections.

Since the predetermined partition line between the wafer region and the at least one residual region has an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction, the wafer region of a wafer pocket can be easily detached from the at least one residual region of the wafer pocket when a tensile force is applied to the wafer pocket in the dispensing direction. This permits easy removal of a wafer pocket from the dispenser. It is particularly preferred if the wafer region is connected to the at least one residual region exclusively via at least one predetermined partition line which has in each case an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction. In this case, there is no predetermined partition line between the wafer region and the residual regions which has, at least in certain sections, no direction component at all parallel to the dispensing direction.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, two predetermined partition lines are present, wherein the predetermined partition lines are perforation sections.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one predetermined partition line runs parallel to the dispensing direction.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the wafer region adjoins the at least one residual region in certain sections via the at least one predetermined partition line and additionally via at least one indent in the wafer pocket.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one holding element has at least one holding rivet which engages through openings in the wafer pockets and has the purpose of securing the at least one wafer pocket in the at least one holding element.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding element which holds the at least one wafer pocket is detachably attached in the dispenser.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one predetermined partition line is formed by in each case one web between the wafer region and the at least one residual region.

In the latter case, it is particularly preferred if the at least one holding element has at least one wall forming in each case a receptacle space for a respective residual region of the wafer pockets and separating said receptacle space from the supply space, and in each case at least one connecting opening to the supply space is located in each of the walls, through which connecting opening the at least one wafer pocket can extend into the at least one receptacle space, wherein the web is located in the region of the connecting opening.

The wafer pocket booklet according to the invention comprises at least two, preferably 28 or 30, wafer pockets connected to one another in a stack. In the latter alternative embodiment of the invention, the wafer pockets are secured in the holding element by virtue of the fact that in each case a residual region of a wafer pocket extends into at least one receptacle space of the holding element and is held there, in particular, with a form fit. The at least one holding element preferably has in each case a wall forming a receptacle space for a respective residual region of the wafer pockets, wherein in each case at least one connecting opening is located in the wall, through which connecting opening the wafer pockets can extend into the respective receptacle space. The respective residual regions of the wafer pockets which extend into the receptacle spaces are connected to the respective wafer region of the wafer pockets via the connecting openings. There is in each case a web in the region of a connecting opening.

The wafer pocket booklet according to the invention is located for use in the dispenser according to the invention. For this purpose, the dispenser has at least one of the holding elements specified above, with which the wafer pockets are held in the stack. As a result, the wafer pockets are held in a stack in the dispenser. The holding element with the wafer pockets is accommodated in the dispenser, in particular attached therein. The holding element is preferably detachably attached in order to be able to remove the holding element from the dispenser again after the wafer pockets have been used up. After the consumption of the wafer pockets, a new wafer pocket stack can be attached by means of its holding element in the dispenser after the removal of the old wafer pocket stack.

Since a booklet of wafer pockets which is bound by means of a holding element can be introduced into the dispenser and attached there, the wafer pocket booklet can be handled independently of the dispenser, in particular can be manufactured, stored, treated and handed over to a user. Finally, the user can handle this booklet separately, for example can insert it independently into a dispenser or simply firstly store it before using the booklet. A sequence of wafer pockets which is fixed in such a booklet during the manufacturing process is therefore maintained during each handling process. Individual wafer pockets therefore cannot be inadvertently interchanged with one another. It is therefore possible for a predefined medicine-taking regime to be readily complied with by a user even with, for example, differently marked wafer pockets, without this sequence, once it has been set during the manufacture of the wafer pocket stack, changing due to incorrect handling by the user or on the way to the user. Furthermore, the presence and the sequence of the wafer pockets in the wafer pocket stack can be proven at any time when necessary by means of the remaining residual regions of the wafer pockets.

Furthermore, the invention also provides the advantage that the user does not have to obtain the wafer pocket stack together with the dispenser and already mounted therein. Instead, it is sufficient if the wafer pocket stack in which the wafer pockets are connected to one another is obtained separately by the user. The connection of the wafer pockets in the stack ensures that the sequence thereof is not changed even during handling. Consequently, the dispenser can be used repeatedly, i.e. the user does not have to discard the dispenser after the wafer pockets have been consumed or return the dispenser to the manufacturer. The latter would involve considerable logistical effort.

A wafer pocket is typically composed of a carrier film and a cover film or else of a lower film and an upper film. The cover film or upper film can be connected to the carrier film or lower film, for example bonded or welded thereto, or vice versa, by means of a preferably strip-shaped connection, running along the side edges of the cover film or upper film. In addition, in one particularly preferred embodiment the carrier film or lower film and the cover film or upper film can have, on in each case at least one side edge, respectively protruding tabs which are not connected to one another. This significantly simplifies the pulling apart and therefore opening of the wafer pockets in order to remove the wafer contained therein because the two films can be easily gripped. A wafer is enclosed between the carrier film or upper film and the cover film or lower film, in a preferably air-tight and moisture-tight fashion, within a region which is formed by the connection. The film pockets can have a small elevation owing to the design or only in the region of the wafer, due to said wafer.

The dispenser according to the invention can preferably be used to store and make available medicinal wafers which it is desirable or necessary to take according to a stringent medicine-taking regime.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dispenser according to the invention typically comprises a base part and a cover part. These two parts can each be formed, in particular, in the form of half shells and form the supply space by connection. The two parts can be connected to one another, in particular, in a frictionally locking, non-positively locking or positively locking fashion. For example, the cover part can be plugged onto the base part and latched thereto. Although the two parts should remain securely connected to one another during use, in order to avoid a wafer pocket stack located therein from dropping out, the cover part should also be capable of being easily taken off (detached) again in order to be able to re-insert a wafer pocket stack with a holding element into the dispenser. The two parts are preferably shaped in such a way that the dispenser has an essentially rectangular shape, wherein the precise shaping can be influenced, for example, according to ergonomic or design criteria, that is to say, for example, with a lateral grip depression or grip ribbing or other patterning and/or rounded and/or beveled edges and corners.

When the dispenser is used, it contains a stack of wafer-containing wafer pockets. This stack is held together by the at least one holding element. The unit composed of the holding element and the wafer pocket stack held by the holding element, wherein the holding element is preferably sealed against unauthorized or unintentional removal of the wafer pockets or residual regions, for example with a holding component lid which is connected in a securely frictionally locking, non-positively locking or positively locking fashion, can be attached, in particular in a detachable fashion, in the dispenser in order to be able to easily insert this unit and to be able to easily remove the holding element again after the wafer pockets have been used up. For this purpose, suitable snap-action connections which are known to a person skilled in the art, or, for example, even a touch-and-close fastener or for example even merely a compartment in which the holding element is laid, can be used. Alternatively, a frictionally locking connection can be provided by pressing the holding element, for example, into a depression or a compartment in the dispenser. At any rate, when necessary a suitable device for detachably holding the holding element on the inside of the dispenser is provided.

The holding element which holds the wafer pocket stack is preferably inserted into the dispenser in such a way that the wafer pockets can be detached individually from the holding element. For this purpose, an arrangement in which an uppermost wafer pocket is detached from the holding element, for example, torn off, parallel to its main extent direction can be particularly preferably selected. In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the holding element is therefore, in particular, mounted in an edge region of the dispenser, on the inner side thereof, with the result that the wafer pockets can be detached from the holding element by pulling them off laterally, and they can subsequently be removed in succession from the dispenser. The direction in which a wafer pocket is detached from the stack by tearing off is preferably the same as the direction in which the wafer pocket is dispensed from the dispenser. For this reason, in the dispenser a dispensing direction can be defined in which the wafer pockets are dispensed from the dispenser.

In the first particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the wafer pockets have an opening through which at least one holding rivet of the holding element can engage with the result that the wafer pockets are held by the holding element. This results in the securely connected stack of wafer pockets. This opening can be of circular design or else elongated. At any rate, its shape is preferably predefined by the cross section of the at least one holding rivet in such a way that although the wafer pockets are securely held on the at least one holding rivet, they can easily slide in the vertical direction. In addition, the holding element can have clamping elements, which press from above or from below onto the stack of the wafer pockets, i.e. onto the stack of the residual regions of the wafer pockets and are located in the holding element or are components of the holding element. In this way, the residual regions are reliably prevented from slipping down out of the holding element.

Two predetermined partition lines can preferably be provided by means of which the wafer region is connected to the at least one residual region. Otherwise, indents in the wafer pocket may be provided by means of which the wafer region and the residual regions adjoin one another. Part of the boundary of the wafer region on the side of the residual regions can also be formed by the at least one opening through which the at least one holding rivet engages. The wafer region and the at least one residual region in this particularly preferred embodiment are therefore connected exclusively by means of the two predetermined partition lines. These can easily be cut open.

In the alternative embodiment, the wall separating the at least one receptacle space from the supply space can, in particular, be embodied in such a way that when a tensile force is applied to the wafer pocket in the dispensing direction of the wafer pocket the wafer region of a wafer pocket becomes detached from the dispenser from the residual region of the wafer pocket extending into the at least one receptacle space. This permits easy removal of a wafer pocket from the dispenser.

For this purpose, the connecting openings between the respective receptacle spaces and the supply space in the dispenser are configured in such a way that the wafer region can easily be separated from the residual regions extending into the receptacle spaces. These openings preferably extend in a direction which has at least one component parallel to a dispensing direction for the wafer pockets. The respective extension directions for the connecting openings are defined by the boundaries at the walls bounding them. The connecting openings can, in particular, run parallel to the dispensing direction or else at an angle≠0° with respect to the dispensing direction, for example at an angle with respect to the dispensing direction which is greater than 0°, preferably greater than 20° and quite particularly preferably greater than 30°, but is smaller than 90°, in particular smaller than 75° and quite particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 45°.

It is particularly preferred if the wall separating the at least one receptacle space from the supply space is embodied in the form of a notching tool for separating the residual region extending into the at least one receptacle space. The notching effect of the notching tool allows easy detachment of the wafer region from the residual region remaining in the receptacle space. As a result, the part of the wafer pocket which contains the wafer can be detached from the holding element with a small tensile force and therefore removed from the dispenser.

In particular, the wall can have a notching edge acting counter to the dispensing direction of the wafer pocket from the dispenser. For this purpose, this wall can be arranged parallel to the dispensing direction of the wafer pockets, and the notching edge of this wall can be oriented counter to the dispensing direction and perpendicular with respect thereto. The wall can, for this purpose, form a cutter on the notching edge by means of a one-sided or two-sided bevel toward the edge. By applying tensile force to the uppermost wafer pocket, this cutter cuts into the web of the wafer pocket which is located in the region of the connecting opening in the wall and causes the wafer pocket to be easily torn in the region of its web by means of the notch effect of said cutter.

The wall preferably runs linearly parallel to the dispensing direction. Alternatively, it can also run at an angle with respect to the dispensing direction which is greater than 0°, preferably greater than 20° and quite particularly preferably greater than 30°, but which is smaller than 90°, in particular smaller than 75° and quite particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 45°.

In a further alternative embodiment, the wall separating the at least one receptacle space from the supply space can be repeatedly penetrated in the region of the connecting opening, that is to say a plurality of partial wall elements which are spaced apart from one another form a plurality of openings between them, which openings pass through the wafer pockets inserted into the holding element at corresponding breakthroughs, wherein these breakthroughs preferably result together in a perforation. This perforation also allows easy separation of the wafer region from the residual region located in the receptacle space and therefore permits the wafer pocket to be easily removed from the dispenser.

For example, the perforation can run preferably linearly parallel to the dispensing direction as in the case of the wall having a notching edge. Alternatively, it can also run at an angle with respect to the dispensing direction which is greater than 0°, preferably greater than 20° and quite particularly preferably greater than 30° but which is smaller than 90°, in particular smaller than 75° and quite particularly preferably smaller than or equal to 45°. In particular if the perforation runs linearly at an angle which is greater than 20° with respect to the dispensing direction, easy separation and dispensing of a wafer pocket are made possible.

The embodiments above for easy separation of the main part of the wafer pocket from the section extending into the receptacle space can be combined with one another, for example by virtue of the fact that each wall section of the wall passing through the perforation again has in each case a notching edge.

In one particularly favorable embodiment of the invention in which receptacle spaces are provided, the dispenser according to the invention can be embodied in such a way that a holding element with two receptacle spaces for a respective residual region can be accommodated therein. The residual regions which are accommodated by the receptacle spaces of this holding element can be provided at in each case one corner of the wafer pocket. A further space, which is open toward the supply space, for the wafer pocket can be located between the two receptacle spaces of the holding element, into which further space a central region of the wafer pocket projects. This central region remains preferably connected to the main part of the wafer pocket when the wafer region is separated from the residual regions extending into the receptacle spaces, and said central region can, in particular, serve as a tearing-open aid, for example by virtue of the fact that the carrier film or lower film and the cover film or upper film are not connected to one another in this region. The holding element which has two receptacle spaces each with a connecting opening and each with a wall for separating the respective receptacle space from the supply space can be provided for accommodating in each case two residual regions at adjacent corners of the wafer pocket.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if a holding element is embodied as a holding block which can be inserted into the dispenser. In the first, particularly preferred embodiment, the holding block preferably has an outer wall which is arranged on a longitudinal side and two outer walls which are arranged on narrow sides and which adjoin one another and are separated on a baseplate. In addition, one or more holding rivets can be fitted onto the baseplate. After the insertion of the wafer pockets, a cover plate can be fitted onto the holding rivet or the holding rivets can be fitted onto the walls and attached there in order to secure the wafer pockets in the holding block. The cover plate is intended, in particular, to prevent the sections dropping out of the receptacle spaces or being able to be removed therefrom, with the result that the wafer pockets in the wafer pocket stack are connected in a positively locking fashion to the holding block. For example, the cover plate can be connected to the upper edges of the walls in a frictionally locking fashion, but preferably in a non-positively locking fashion, positively locking fashion or materially joined fashion. For example, recesses are contained in the upper region of the walls, which recesses latch into the projections of the cover plate during the insertion, and/or the cover plate is welded or bonded to the walls. The cover plate is preferably welded to the walls, for example using ultrasound.

Alternatively, in the second alternative embodiment in particular when two or more receptacle spaces are provided, they can be combined in a holding block. For this purpose, a single-piece (integral) unit is formed. For example, the walls forming the receptacle spaces can be connected to one another via a further wall. Moreover, it may be advantageous that the walls are additionally connected to one another via a baseplate onto which the walls are fitted and with which the walls are preferably connected in a materially joined fashion. The baseplate forms, together with the walls, the receptacle spaces in each case. The holding block can, furthermore, have a cover plate which additionally closes off the receptacle spaces.

The holding block is preferably designed for attachment to the base part of the dispenser, with the result that the holding block with the wafer pockets attached therein remains attached to the base part if the dispenser is opened by removing the lid part.

The at least one holding element can be arranged on a side of the dispenser located opposite the dispensing opening for the wafer pockets. The dispensing opening can be embodied, in particular, in the form of a dispensing slit.

In order to be able to dispense a wafer pocket from the dispenser without impediment, preferably a run-up slope for a wafer pocket to be dispensed is formed in the supply space, said run-up slope directing the wafer pocket to be dispensed through the dispensing opening.

In order to be able to dispense an uppermost wafer pocket from the dispenser, a grip opening which permits the uppermost wafer pocket to be pushed forward manually can be formed in a main outer surface of the dispenser, for example in the lid part. This grip opening is preferably elongated and formed parallel to the dispensing direction in the outer surface of the dispenser. The uppermost wafer pocket can be pushed forward with a finger through this grip opening and out through the dispensing opening.

Alternatively, a device as in the case of DE 10 2008 014 533 A1 may be present, that is to say a transporting roller or else a transporting wheel which is in frictionally locking contact with the uppermost wafer pocket and conveys said wafer pocket out of the dispenser through manual rotation.

Furthermore, a display surface can be provided adjacent to the dispensing opening on the dispenser according to the invention, to which display surface time data can be applied. This time data may be, for example, calendar dates, in particular weekday information. In the latter case, 7 fields arranged one next to the other can be applied to the display surface, to be precise preferably parallel to the dispensing slit. The time data can be applied to the display surface by, for example, adhering a plate containing the time data.

This time data serves to allow the user to check when dispensing a wafer pocket whether this wafer pocket is to be removed within a prescribed time interval. Furthermore, in order to achieve this, each wafer pocket has a mark in one of a plurality of marking sections arranged alongside one another in a region adjacent to a marking edge on the wafer pocket, wherein the respective marks are arranged incrementally from one wafer pocket to the next wafer pocket in successive marking sections inside the stack. The marking sections on the marking edge are arranged one next to each other in accordance with the fields of the time data on the dispenser, and when a wafer pocket is dispensed they are arranged flush therewith. The width of the fields of the time data on the display surface and the width of the marking sections are for this purpose, in particular, of equal size. During the medicine-taking regime with respective daily consumption of one wafer, the time data comprises weekday information. In this case, 7 weekday items of information of this type are located on the display surface. In the same way, 7 marking sections with in each case one mark are located on each wafer pocket. When a wafer pocket is dispensed, the marking on this wafer pocket is aligned with one of the items of weekday information so that the user can check whether the marked piece of weekday information corresponds to the current weekday.

The dispenser according to the invention is preferably of counterfeit-proof design. For this purpose, one or more safety marks can be provided on the dispenser which permit the genuineness of the dispenser to be checked, and these may be, for example, printed labels using a microscript, holograms, tilted images or other safety features. In the same way, such safety features can also be provided on the wafer pockets in order to be able to prevent falsification.

The figures described below show preferred embodiments according to the invention. However, the invention is not restricted to these embodiments. They serve merely to illustrate the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a holding block which is open toward the top with a separately illustrated cover plate and a wafer pocket which can be inserted into the holding block, in a first embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 1 a shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket in a variant of that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of a wafer pocket booklet which is obtained by mounting a wafer pocket stack in a holding block, according to the first embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of the wafer pocket booklet from FIG. 2 after the uppermost wafer pocket has been torn off;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a holding block which is open toward the top and a wafer pocket which can be inserted into the holding block, in a second embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a holding block which is open toward the top and a wafer pocket which can be inserted into the holding block, in a third embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet composed of a stack of wafer pockets, combined by means of a holding block, according to the second or the third embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet composed of a stack of wafer pockets which are combined by means of a holding block, in which stack the uppermost wafer pocket has been separated out from the holding block, according to the second or the third embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the base and lid parts forming a dispenser according to the invention, according to the second embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention in the ready-to-use state; and

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention with a rotatable transporting wheel.

Identical reference symbols in the figures respectively denote identical elements.

The holding block 10 shown in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment according to the invention comprises a baseplate 11, side walls, specifically a left-end wall 12.1 and a right-end wall 12.2 as well as a rear wall 12.3 and a cover plate 13. The cover plate 13 is fitted onto the walls 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 in order to mount the holding block 10 with wafer pockets 20 located therein. The holding block 10 is inserted as a holding element for the wafer pockets 20. The holding block 10 also has a holding rivet 19 which fits on the baseplate 1. The cover plate 13 also has latching webs 13.1, 13.2, 13.3 which, during the mounting of the holding block 10, engage in corresponding cutouts 12.11, 12.21 in the walls 12.1, 12.2 and in a cutout 19.1 in the latching rivet 19 and latch there.

The wafer pocket 20 has a wafer region 21 and a residual region 24. Furthermore, an opening 26 is provided through which the latching rivet 19 engages in the mounted state, with the result that the wafer pocket 20 is held by the holding block 10. The wafer region 21 and the residual region 24 adjoin one another by means of an indent 27 in the wafer pocket 20. In the region of the indents 27, the wafer region 21 and the residual region 24 are not connected to one another. The wafer region 21 and the residual region 24 are merely connected to one another by means of two perforation sections, specifically a left-hand perforation section 28.1 and a right-hand perforation section 28.2. These two perforation sections 28.1, 28.2 extend parallel to a dispensing direction A of the wafer pocket 20 in which the wafer region 21 is removed from the dispenser. The perforation sections therefore have extent components (represented by lines 29) parallel to the dispensing direction A.

A variant of the wafer pocket 20 is shown in FIG. 1 a. This differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that the perforation sections 28.1, 28.2 do not run parallel to the dispensing direction A but rather at an angle≠0°. The resulting extent components 29 parallel to the dispensing direction A are also indicated.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 1, the wafer pocket 20 is laid into the holding block 20 mounting so that the holding rivet 19 slides into the opening 26 in the wafer pocket 20. As a result, the residual region 24 of the wafer pocket is located in the holding block 10, while the wafer region 21 is located outside the holding block 10. After the mounting of, for example, 28 or else 30 wafer pockets 20 in the holding block 10, the cover plate 13 is fitted onto the walls 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 and the holding rivet 19 and latched there and/or welded there, for example by means of ultrasound.

A wafer pocket booklet 100 mounted in this way and comprising the holding block 10 and the stack composed of wafer pockets 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 also illustrates that the wafer region 21′ of an uppermost wafer pocket 20′ has been torn out of the holding block 10. For this purpose, a tensile force has been applied in the dispensing direction A, with the result that the wafer region 21′ of the uppermost wafer pocket 20′ has been torn off from the residual region remaining in the holding block 10, in the region of the perforation sections 28.1, 28.2 which already existed before.

The holding block 10 which is shown in FIG. 4 in the second embodiment according to the invention has a baseplate 11 as well as side walls, specifically left-hand walls 12.1 and right-hand walls 12.2. The holding block 10 also has a cover plate 13 which is fitted onto the walls 12.1 and 12.2 as soon as the wafer pockets 20 are laid in the holding block 10. The walls 12.1, 12.2 enclose two receptacle spaces, a left-hand receptacle space 14.1 and a right-hand receptacle space 14.2. The walls 12.1, including the left-hand walls 15.1, 15.3 and a part of the rear wall 12.3, form the left-hand receptacle space 14.1, and the walls 12.2, including the right-hand walls 15.2, 15.4 and a part of the rear wall 12.3, form the right-hand receptacle space 14.2. In each case securing elements for the wafer pockets 20 are formed by the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2 and walls 12.1, 15.1, 15.3, 12.3 and 12.2, 15.2, 15.4, 12.3. Each of the walls 15.3, 15.4 leaves an opening 18.1, 18.2 clear so that the wafer pockets 20 can extend there into the respective receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2. These connecting openings 18.1, 18.2 are bounded by the oblique wall bodies 12.31 and 12.32 on the one side and by the respective wall 15.3 and 15.4 on the other side. The connecting openings run approximately parallel to the dispensing direction A of the wafer pockets 20. The respective walls, specifically the left-hand dividing wall 15.3 and the right-hand dividing wall 15.4, have a left-hand notching edge 16.1 and a right-hand notching edge 16.2. These notching edges 16.1, 16.2 are arranged in such a way that they act counter to the dispensing direction A of the wafer pockets 20. The notching edges 16.1, 16.2 are formed by a one-sided bevel of the respective receptacle space 14.1, 14.2 toward the outside. The bevels result in sharp (cutting) edges which apply the notch effect making it easier to tear off the wafer regions 21 of the wafer pockets 20 from the respective residual regions 24.1, 24.2.

The wafer pockets 20 initially have a wafer region 21 in which the wafer is welded or sealed in, and two residual regions 24.1, 24.2 which, as shown in FIG. 4, are shaped according to the shaping of the holding block 10: The residual regions 24.1, 24.2 of the pocket 20 are located on a narrow side of a wafer pocket 20. The residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are connected to a central region 23 of the wafer region 21 via webs, specifically a left-hand web 25.1 and a right-hand web 25.2. Alternatively, just a single receptacle space with just one web may also be provided. In the central region 23, the carrier film or lower film and the cover film or upper film are preferably not connected to one another, with the result that the user can grip each of these two films with one hand and pull them apart from one another. The webs 25.1, 25.2 are made so wide that the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are kept stable by the central region 23, but on the other hand when a tensile force is applied to the wafer region 21 of the wafer pocket 20 they do in turn easily tear apart. For this purpose the webs 25.1, 25.2 (or also just one web) can, in one particularly advantageous embodiment, be additionally provided with perforations (indicated) in order to make the tearing off even easier. In order to attach the wafer pocket 20 in the holding block 10, the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are inserted into the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2. The central region 23 of the wafer pocket 20 is then located in the connecting space 17 which is located between the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2, and the wafer region 21 of the wafer pocket 20 (however without the connecting region 23) projects out of the holding block 10, while the central region 23 of the wafer region 21 is located in the holding block 10. The webs 25.1, 25.2 directly adjoin the notching edges 16.1, 16.2. When a tensile force is applied to the wafer pocket 20 in the dispensing direction A, notching forces then act from these notching edges 16.1, 16.2, on the webs 25.1, 25.2, with the result that the wafer region 21 is sheared off from the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 and can be detached from the holding block 10.

The holding block 10 shown in FIG. 5 in the third embodiment according to the invention has, as in the case of the first embodiment according to the invention, a baseplate 11 and side walls 12.1, 12.2. The holding block 10 also has a cover plate 13, which is fitted onto the walls 12.1, 12.2, as soon as the wafer pockets 20 are laid in the holding block 10. The wall 12.1, including the walls 15.1, 15.3 and part of the rear wall 12.3, and the wall 12.2, including the walls 5.2, 5.4 and part of the rear wall 12.3, respectively enclose a receptacle space, specifically a left-hand receptacle space 14.1, and a right-hand receptacle space 14.2. The walls 12.1, including the left-hand walls 15.1, 15.3 and part of the rear wall 12.3, form the left-hand receptacle space 14.1, and the walls 12.2, including the right-hand walls 15.2, 15.4 and part of the rear wall 12.3, form the right-hand receptacle space 14.2. In contrast to the first embodiment according to the invention, the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2 are also formed by perforation bars, specifically left-hand perforation bars 17.1 and right-hand perforation bars 17.2. Openings 18.1, 18.2 are respectively left between the perforation bars 17.1, 17.2, through which openings 18.1, 18.2 wafer pockets 20 extend into the respective receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2. The connecting openings are formed in the present case by the totality of all the openings 18.1, 18.2. The connecting openings are in turn bounded by the rear wall 12.3 and the walls 15.3 and 15.4, respectively. The connecting openings run at an angle>0° with respect to the dispensing direction A of the wafer pockets 20.

The wafer pockets 20 firstly have a wafer region 21 in which the wafer is welded or sealed, and two residual regions 24.1, 24.2, which, as shown in FIG. 5, are shaped according to the shaping of the holding block 10. The residual regions 24.1, 24.2 of the pocket 20 are located on a narrow side of a wafer pocket 20. The residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are connected via perforations, specifically a left-hand perforation 26.1 and a right-hand perforation 26.2, to the central region 23 of the wafer pocket 20. Alternatively, just a single receptacle space with just one perforation can also be provided. In the central region 23, the carrier film and the cover film are preferably not welded or sealed to one another. The central region 23 is a component of the wafer region 21 of the wafer pocket 20 and preferably serves as a tear-off aid after the separation of the wafer region 21. Perforations 26.1, 26.2 are embodied in such a way that the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are kept stable by the central region 23, but on the other hand can in turn be easily detached from the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 when the main part 21 of the wafer pocket 20 is torn off. In order to attach the wafer pocket 20 in the holding block 10, the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 are inserted into the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2. For this purpose, the perforation bars 17.1, 17.2 pass through the respective perforations 26.1, 26.2. If the wafer pocket 20 is inserted into the holding block 10, the central region 23 of the wafer pocket 20 is located in the connecting space 17 located between the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2, and the main part of the wafer region 21 of the wafer pocket 20 projects out of the holding block 10. The perforations 26.1, 26.2 directly adjoin the walls 15.3, 15.4. The application of a tensile force to the wafer pocket 20 in the dispensing direction A then causes the wafer region 21 to be torn off from the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 and allows it to be detached from the holding block 10.

FIG. 6 shows a wafer pocket booklet 100 which is formed by a mounted stack of wafer pockets 20 and a holding block 10 according to the first embodiment according to the invention, which holding block 10 holds together the wafer pockets 20.

FIG. 7 shows the wafer pocket booklet 100 shown in FIG. 6. The wafer pocket booklet 100 comprises the stack of wafer pockets 20 with a central region 23 which can still be seen partly at the top. The wafer pockets 20 are held together by means of the holding block 10. However, in this case the uppermost wafer pocket 20′, together with its central region 23′, is already separated out from the holding block 10 in the dispensing direction A. The residual regions of this wafer pocket 20′ have remained in the receptacle spaces in the holding block 10.

FIG. 8 shows the two base and cover parts which form a dispenser 1 according to the invention. The base part is denoted by the reference number 2, and the cover part by the reference number 3. A holding block 10 with wafer pockets 20, which are held together by the holding block 10 to form a stack, is inserted into the base part 2. The holding block 10 is shown in the opened position for purposes of illustration, that is to say the cover plate is not fitted on. However, during normal operation the holding block 10 is closed off by means of the cover plate, with the result that the wafer pockets 20 cannot fall out or be removed. The holding block 10 is latched into the base part 2, with the result that it cannot fall out even if the dispenser 1 is opened. Furthermore, the holding block 10, and therefore the entire stack of wafer pockets 20, are secured in the base part 2 in order to push the uppermost wafer pocket 20 out of the dispenser 1. The parts 2, 3 form together a storage space 9 for the stack of wafer pockets 20.

After the insertion of the holding block 10, the cover part 3 is fitted with the stack of wafer pockets 20 onto the base part 2 and latched.

In order to dispense the uppermost wafer pocket 20 from the dispenser, said wafer pocket 20 is pushed out manually with a finger in the dispensing direction A through the opening 4 in the cover part 3. At the same time, a tensile force is applied to the uppermost wafer pocket 20, with the result that the wafer region 21 of the wafer pocket 20 is torn off from the residual regions 24.1, 24.2 of the wafer pocket 20, said residual regions 24.1, 24.2 remaining in the receptacle spaces 14.1, 14.2 of the holding block 10, with the result that the wafer region 21 of the uppermost wafer pocket 20 becomes detached from the holding block 10. A dispensing slit 5 in the cover part 3 serves to dispense the wafer region 21 of this uppermost wafer pocket 20 after its detachment from the rest of the wafer stack, said dispensing slit 5 being located on a narrow side of the cover part 3, approximately on the side edge of the cover part 3. So that the separated-off uppermost wafer pocket 20 reliably slides in and through the dispensing slit 5, a run-up slope 6 is present in the base part 2, which run-up slope 6 is located on the inner wall of the base part 2 on the narrow side which lies opposite the narrow side to which the holding block 10 is attached, specifically in the region of the dispensing slit 5. As a result of the force applied to the uppermost wafer pocket 20 in the dispensing direction A, the wafer region 21 of the uppermost wafer pocket 20 is conveyed in the dispensing direction A after the detachment from the holding block 10, and passes over the run-up slope 6 and directly outward through the dispensing slit 5, where it can be removed by the user.

In addition, a weekday strip 7 can be seen on the cover part 3, which weekday strip 7 is applied to a display surface adjacent to the dispensing slit 5, and parallel thereto. 7 weekday fields which are arranged one next to the other are present, which weekday fields are aligned with corresponding marking sections in a region adjacent to a marking edge 22 on the wafer pockets 20 when a wafer pocket 20 is dispensed from the dispensing slit 5. A mark on one of the marking sections is located on each wafer pocket 20 and said mark therefore shows, in alignment with one of the weekday fields, the day of the week on which the wafer contained in the dispensed wafer region of the wafer pocket 20 is to be taken (not illustrated). Consistent checking of the consumption of the respective wafers is therefore possible. Successive wafer pockets 20 in the stack contain the marks in successive marking sections since the wafers contained in the wafer pockets 20 are to be taken on successive days. In a corresponding way, other medicine-taking rhythms can also be predefined.

FIG. 9 illustrates the dispenser 1 according to the invention in the ready-to-use state. For this purpose, the cover part 3 is fitted onto the base part 2. Both parts 2, 3 are latched to one another. In this case, the weekday strip is not used up. For the purpose of illustration, only the display surface 8 to which the weekday strip can be applied is illustrated.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention with a rotatable transporting wheel 30, respectively in the open position and the closed position. The transporting wheel 30 serves to convey the uppermost wafer pocket 20 in the dispensing direction A and to push it out of the dispensing slit 5. 

1. A dispenser having at least one wafer pocket containing a wafer, wherein the dispenser has a supply space, at least one holding element for the at least one wafer pocket and at least one dispensing opening for in each case one wafer pocket, through which opening the wafer pocket can be dispensed from the dispenser in a dispensing direction, characterized in that the at least one wafer pocket has in each case a wafer region containing the wafer and in each case at least one residual region of the at least one wafer pocket, said residual region remaining in the dispenser when the wafer region is dispensed, and in that the wafer region is connected at least in certain sections to the at least one residual region in each case via at least one predetermined partition line which has, at least in certain sections, an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction, and characterized in that optionally at least one predetermined partition line runs parallel to the dispensing direction.
 2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two predetermined partition lines are present, and in that the predetermined partition lines are perforation sections.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wafer region adjoins the at least one residual region in certain sections via the at least one predetermined partition line and additionally via at least one indent in the wafer pocket.
 5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one holding element has at least one holding rivet which engages through openings in the wafer pockets and has the purpose of securing the at least one wafer pocket in the at least one holding element, and characterized in that the holding element is optionally detachably attached in the dispenser.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one predetermined partition line is formed by in each case one web between the wafer region and the at least one residual region.
 8. The dispenser as claimed in claim, characterized in that the at least one holding element has at least one wall forming in each case a receptacle space for a respective residual region of the wafer pockets and separating said receptacle space from the supply space, wherein in each case at least one connecting opening to the supply space is located in the wall through which connecting opening the at least one wafer pocket can extend into the at least one receptacle space, wherein the web is located in the region of the connecting opening.
 9. The dispenser as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the wall is embodied in such a way that when a tensile force is applied to the wafer pocket in the dispensing direction, the wafer region becomes detached from the residual region located in the at least one receptacle space.
 10. The dispenser as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the wall is adapted for separating the residual region from the wafer region.
 11. The dispenser as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the wall has a notching edge acting counter to the dispensing direction.
 12. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one holding element is arranged in the dispenser on a side of the dispenser located opposite the dispensing opening for the wafer pockets.
 13. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a run-up slope for a wafer pocket to be dispensed is located in the supply space, with the result that the wafer pocket to be dispensed is directed through the dispensing opening.
 14. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, claims, characterized in that a grip opening which permits an uppermost wafer pocket to be pushed forward manually is formed in a main outer surface of the dispenser.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a display surface, to which time data can be applied, is provided adjacent to the dispensing opening.
 17. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 claims, characterized in that the wafer pockets are contained in a stack in the dispenser and each has a mark in one of a plurality of marking sections arranged alongside one another in a region adjacent to a marking edge on the wafer pocket, wherein the respective marks are arranged incrementally from one wafer pocket to the next wafer pocket in successive marking sections inside the stack.
 18. The dispenser as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the marking sections are aligned with fields for the time data on the display surface.
 19. A wafer pocket booklet, comprising at least two wafer pockets which are connected to one another in a stack and which each have a wafer region containing a wafer and each have at least one residual region which remains in the dispenser when the wafer region is dispensed, wherein the wafer pockets are connected to one another by means of at least one holding element, characterized in that the wafer region is connected to the at least one residual region at least in certain sections, in each case via at least one predetermined partition line which has, at least in certain sections, an extent component parallel to the dispensing direction, and characterized in that optionally at least one predetermined partition line runs parallel to the dispensing direction.
 20. The wafer pocket booklet as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that two predetermined partition lines are present, and in that the predetermined partition lines are perforation sections.
 21. (canceled)
 22. The wafer pocket booklet as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the wafer region adjoins the at least one residual region at least in certain sections via the at least one predetermined partition line and additionally via at least one indent in the wafer pocket.
 23. The wafer pocket booklet as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the wafer pockets have openings through which a holding rivet of the holding element can engage in order to combine the wafer pockets to form the stack by means of the at least one holding element.
 24. The wafer pocket booklet as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the wafer pockets each have a mark in one of a plurality of marking sections arranged alongside one another in a region adjacent to a marking edge on the wafer pocket, wherein the respective marks are arranged incrementally from one wafer pocket to the next wafer pocket in successive marking sections inside the stack.
 25. (canceled) 